Brief case



5. H. LIFTON BRIEF CASE Filed Aug. 4., 1923 ATTORNEY hetented @ct. 211,H924.

entree star SAMUEL H. LIFTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BRIEF case.

Application filed August 4, 1923. Serial No. 655,567.

10 closure therefor in the form of a flap adapted go overlap the-upperedges of the body memer. In devices of the character described herein,having a closure flap, it is necessary to 15 hold the flap upward andoutward by one hand while inserting articles into the case, or removingthem therefrom.

Considerable dilficulty is frequently had under such conditions inproperly arranging the contents within the case and in sorting out, orselecting from, the contents of such case without removing the entirecontents.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a device of thecharacter stated that is simple and strong in construction, durable inuse, and adapted to enable the contents of such a case to be readilyinserted therein in any desired relation to each other, and selectivelyremoved therefrom readily and quickly.

For accomplishing such purpose, the invention comprises a brief case, orsimilar device, provided with a closure flap that readily adjusts itselfto a vertical position when released at its free margin from the body ofthe case, thereby enabling the user to employ both hands, if so desired,in placing any articles within the case in their proper relation to eachother, or to remove therefrom any desired article without removing theentire contents of the case.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, hereinafter stated, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination,

' and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically stated, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a deviceembodying the structure of the invention in its preferred form, but itis to be understood that changes, variations, and modilications may beresorted to without depart ing from the scope of the invention.

lln describing the invention in detail, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, whereinlike characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brief case embodying my invention,showing the closure flap in open position in full lines, and indicatingby dotted lines the position of the flap when closed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,and illustrating by dotted lines the closure flap in closed cs1- tion,and in a position intermediate its c osed and open position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the inner surface of a closure flap andone side ofv a brief case embodying the invention, in a modified form;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, illustrating afurther'modification of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

The body of the brief case shown in the drawings is of the usualconstruction, comprising front cover member 1 and back cover member 2,the latter having a closure flap 3 formed therewith. The front and backcover members are connected by means of gusset members 4, and if desiredan intermediate wall 5 may be connected with the gusset members.

The gusset members are secured to the cover members at their outermargins by means of rows of stitching 6.

The closure flap is shown provided with a lock section 7 which engages acorresponding lock section 8 secured to the front cover member 1. Theflap is also provided with strap members 9 which engage buckle members10 secured to the front cover member l in the usual manner.

In order to enable the closure flap to automatically assume a verticalposition as soon as said member is disengaged from connection with thefront cover member of the case, the closure flap and a portion ofthebaclr cover member 2 are provided with a flexible resilient member 11which extends downwardly below the lower margin of the closure flap, soas to have a bearing on both the back cover member and the closure flaThe member 11 may be of any suitable form, such as a thin band or wire,made of metal, or other material having similar capabilities.

As shown in Fig. 1, the resilient member is made in two sections, eachsection extending lit/It lid along the lateral margin of the closureflap and part-way down the margin of the back 7 cover of the case, withthe upper end thereof back cover member and closure flap inany suitablemanner, preferably by means of a cover or lining 14, the outer margin ofwhich may be secured together with the outer margin of the back covermember and the outer margin of one of the gussets 4, as shown in Fig. 5,with a portion of said cover or lining secured to the back cover memberby means of a row of stitching 15. The member thus covering the flexiblemember is preferably extended entirely across the inner face of the backcover member, although that is not an essential feature of theinvention.

The resilient member 11 serves not only as means for automaticallyraising the closure flap when released from the front cover member, butalso as a reinforcing member for holding the outer margin of the flap inshape .so as to preventit from twisting or curling. The reinforcingfeature of said member may be employed to reinforce the back covermember 2 by continuing the resilient member around the entire outermargin of the closure flap, and the entire outer margin of the backcover member, as shown in Fig. 4.

The case is carried in the usual manner by means of a handle or strap12.

When in use, brief cases are generally handled roughly, and frequentlythey are thrown down carelessly on their back cover member, andconsequently that portion of the case is subjected to greater wear thanthe remaining portions thereof. By extending the resilient memberentirely around the margin of the closure flap and the outer margin ofthe back cover member, the back .cover member and the cover flap ofthe-brief case are specially protected from injury. 7

When it is desired to have access to the I interior of the case, and theclosure flap is released from engagement with the front cover member,the closure flap instantly springs backward automatically into theposition shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2; the user of the case isthen enabled to use both hands while examining the contents of the caseand remove any desired article therefrom, without withdrawing the entirein Fig. 2, which shows the osition assumed by the closure flap intermeiate its position when locked in engagement with the front cover member,and its vertical osition.

The convenience and ease with which the brief case can be filled, or anyortion of its contents examined and remove is increased by virtue of thefact that the closure flap spring member, by being extended around i theouter margin of the back cover member, enables said covermember tobeheld evenly in a vertical lane coincident with that of the closuredhp, thereby preventing any bulgin or sagging of the back cover mem heran closure flap.

at I claim as new and desire to seen by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A brief case, comprising a body having a front cover member, and aback cover member provided with a closure flap, and resilient meansconnected with said closure flap and back cover member, adapted togugomatically lift said flap and open said 2. A brief case, comprising abody having a front'cover member, and a back-cover member provided-witha closure flap, and a resilient flap opening member secured to the outermargin of said flap and back cover member.

3. A brief case, com'prising'a body having a front cover member, and aback cover member provided witha closure flap, and a resilientbandsecuredto the outer margin of said flap and back cover member.

In testimony that I claim. the foregoing. as my invention, I have signedmyname hereunder.

SAMUEL n. LIFTON.

